On November 14-15, CLDP hosted a workshop on Independent Power Producers (IPP) Procurement Strategy. The workshop was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), and the National Agency for Public-Private Partnerships. The workshop built off a previous study tour to South Africa where participants from Sri Lanka expressed interest in further discussion on how to improve the procurement and management of IPPs in Sri Lanka. The workshop presented the South Africa experience with creating an IPP Office, highlighting their successes and lessons learned with their renewable energy procurement program. The workshop included speakers from the South Africa Department of Energy’s IPP Office, South Africa’s public utility company and project finance advisors.

On October 17-18, CLDP, in cooperation with the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), initiated an SCCA-sanctioned alternative dispute resolution (ADR) training course for future female commercial mediation and arbitration lawyers. The ADR course is part of SCCA’s goal to certify up to 60 female mediators and arbitrators to manage cases brought to the SCCA in the coming two years. The ADR Course was envisioned after the successful implementation of a pilot women’s workshop on “Negotiations and Mediation” that was conducted by CLDP in December of 2017. The two-day program engaged participants in a series of intensive ADR simulations guided by an expert from UNCITRAL alongside the region’s top Arab female ADR specialists.

On April 26, U.S. Deptartment of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, General Counsel Peter Davidson and CLDP Chief Counsel Steve Gardner visited with children of Office of the General Counsel (OGC) employees on Bring Your Kid to Work Day in the department's library.

From April 16-20, a delegation of 16 judges and government officials from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), headed by the Deputy Minister of Justice, participated in consultations on developing a bankruptcy system in KSA and improving the transparency and efficiency of its commercial courts.

On March 21-30, CLDP led teams from 4 BiH Universities: University of Sarajevo, University of Zenica, University of Tuzla, and University of Banja Luka to participate in the 25th Vis Moot in Vienna, Austria, where students from the University of Zenica Faculty of Law made history this year by being the first team from the Balkans to advance to the Round of 16.

On February 27, 2018 Peter Davidson, General Counsel, U.S. Department of Commerce, launched the new Power Africa handbook, Understanding Power Project Procurement, before a crowd of US companies and other private sector partners. Developed by CLDP, the book can be accessed here: http://cldp.doc.gov/programs/cldp-in-action/details/1935

CLDP in Action

On February 19, CLDP participated in a networking luncheon, hosted by the Washington Intergovernmental Professional Group, to hear from Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the U.S. about Uzbekistan’s commitment to reform and openness.

Interactive Map

CLDP's mission is to improve the legal environment for doing business in developing and transitional countries around the globe and thereby foster greater political stability and economic opportunity for local entrepreneurs and U.S. companies alike.